London, UNITED KINGDOM — Manchester City secured their place in history on Saturday, becoming the first team ever to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals.
This follows a dramatic semi-final at Wembley Stadium which saw Pep Guardiola’s side overcome a late scare from Southampton, scoring twice in the final ten minutes to secure a 2-1 victory in front of 70,053 fans.
The match remained deadlocked until the 79th minute when Finn Azaz silenced the City faithful with a stunning opener, assisted by K. Matsuki. However, the “champions’ mentality” prevailed as Jeremy Doku leveled the scores just three minutes later.
Okay News reports that the turnaround was completed in the 87th minute when Nico González unleashed a spectacular long-range strike to send the holders into the final.
Treble Hopes Intact
Despite making eight changes to the starting XI, Guardiola successfully managed his squad’s fatigue while keeping their domestic treble dreams alive. With the EFL Cup already secured and a fierce battle ongoing for the Premier League title, City’s victory ensures they remain competitive on all fronts. Former striker Wayne Rooney praised the depth of the City squad, noting that Doku, who also assisted the winning goal, was “undefendable” throughout the second half.
Southampton, currently competing in the Championship, earned widespread praise for their disciplined performance. Legend Alan Shearer described the Saints as “outstanding,” noting their heroic defensive effort before the late City surge.
Manchester City now await the winner of Sunday’s second semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United.
